US10389177B2 - Magnetic field configuration for a wireless energy transfer system - Google Patents

Magnetic field configuration for a wireless energy transfer system Download PDF

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US10389177B2
US10389177B2 US15/334,075 US201615334075A US10389177B2 US 10389177 B2 US10389177 B2 US 10389177B2 US 201615334075 A US201615334075 A US 201615334075A US 10389177 B2 US10389177 B2 US 10389177B2
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magnetic field
transmitter
receiver
wireless power
field generating
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US20170093215A1 (en
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Boon NG
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Elix Wireless Charging Systems Inc
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Elix Wireless Charging Systems Inc
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
    • H02J50/00—Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power
    • H02J50/10—Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01F—MAGNETS; INDUCTANCES; TRANSFORMERS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
    • H01F1/00—Magnets or magnetic bodies characterised by the magnetic materials therefor; Selection of materials for their magnetic properties
    • H01F1/01—Magnets or magnetic bodies characterised by the magnetic materials therefor; Selection of materials for their magnetic properties of inorganic materials
    • H01F1/03—Magnets or magnetic bodies characterised by the magnetic materials therefor; Selection of materials for their magnetic properties of inorganic materials characterised by their coercivity
    • H01F1/032—Magnets or magnetic bodies characterised by the magnetic materials therefor; Selection of materials for their magnetic properties of inorganic materials characterised by their coercivity of hard-magnetic materials
    • H01F1/04—Magnets or magnetic bodies characterised by the magnetic materials therefor; Selection of materials for their magnetic properties of inorganic materials characterised by their coercivity of hard-magnetic materials metals or alloys
    • H01F1/047—Alloys characterised by their composition
    • H01F1/053—Alloys characterised by their composition containing rare earth metals
    • H01F1/055—Alloys characterised by their composition containing rare earth metals and magnetic transition metals, e.g. SmCo5
    • H01F1/057—Alloys characterised by their composition containing rare earth metals and magnetic transition metals, e.g. SmCo5 and IIIa elements, e.g. Nd2Fe14B
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01F—MAGNETS; INDUCTANCES; TRANSFORMERS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
    • H01F38/00—Adaptations of transformers or inductances for specific applications or functions
    • H01F38/14—Inductive couplings
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01F—MAGNETS; INDUCTANCES; TRANSFORMERS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
    • H01F7/00—Magnets
    • H01F7/02—Permanent magnets [PM]
    • H01F7/0205—Magnetic circuits with PM in general
    • H01F7/021—Construction of PM
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01F—MAGNETS; INDUCTANCES; TRANSFORMERS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
    • H01F7/00—Magnets
    • H01F7/02—Permanent magnets [PM]
    • H01F7/0273—Magnetic circuits with PM for magnetic field generation
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
    • H02J50/00—Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power
    • H02J50/40—Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using two or more transmitting or receiving devices
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
    • H02J50/00—Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power
    • H02J50/40—Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using two or more transmitting or receiving devices
    • H02J50/402—Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using two or more transmitting or receiving devices the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
    • H02J50/00—Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power
    • H02J50/70—Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
    • H02J7/025—
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02K—DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES
    • H02K47/00—Dynamo-electric converters
    • H02K47/18—AC/AC converters
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02K—DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES
    • H02K7/00—Arrangements for handling mechanical energy structurally associated with dynamo-electric machines, e.g. structural association with mechanical driving motors or auxiliary dynamo-electric machines
    • H02K7/10—Structural association with clutches, brakes, gears, pulleys or mechanical starters
    • H02K7/11—Structural association with clutches, brakes, gears, pulleys or mechanical starters with dynamo-electric clutches

Definitions

  • This application pertains to an arrangement of magnetic field generating elements comprising permanent magnets or coils or combinations thereof that enables the magnetic field to be stronger and concentrated in the air gap between the wireless power transmitter and the wireless power receiver in wireless power transfer systems.
  • Magnetic inductive charging is the most popular form of wireless power transfer currently in use.
  • the basic form of magnetic inductive charging uses two coils in close proximity where one coil acts as the wireless power transmitter and the other acts as the receiver of wireless power.
  • a time-varying current flows in the transmitter coil, which produces a time-varying magnetic field.
  • This time-varying magnetic field induces current in the nearby receiver coil (Faraday's law), which can then be used to charge various devices.
  • Magnetic-coupling technology has also been described as a viable wireless power transfer solution.
  • the technology may make use of a strong magnetic coupling whereby a rotating magnet in a wireless power transmitter couples onto another nearby magnet in the wireless power receiver.
  • the transfer of energy is via rotational magnetic coupling rather than direct magnetic induction mechanism.
  • the time-varying magnetic field generated by the rotating magnets typically has a lower frequency compared to magnetic induction systems.
  • FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a wireless power transfer system according to an example embodiment
  • FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a wireless power transfer system according to an example embodiment
  • FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a wireless power transmitter or receiver magnet comprising a plurality of coils as the individual magnetic field generating units according to an example embodiment
  • FIG. 4 is schematic view of a wireless power transmitter or receiver magnet according to an example embodiment
  • FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a wireless power transmitter or receiver magnet according to an example embodiment
  • FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a wireless power transmitter or receiver magnet according to an example embodiment
  • FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a wireless power transfer system comprising individual magnetic field generating units, some of which comprise both permanent magnets and stationary coils according to an example embodiment;
  • FIG. 8 is a cross-section of a wireless power transfer system comprising a combination of a plurality of moveable permanent magnets in a Halbach array and stationary coils according to an example embodiment
  • FIG. 9 is a cross-section of a wireless power transfer system comprising a combination of a plurality of moveable permanent magnets and stationary coils according to an example embodiment.
  • One aspect of the invention provides a magnetically coupled wireless power transfer system having a rotating wireless power transmitter magnet and a rotating wireless power receiver magnet.
  • the wireless power transmitter and receiver magnets each comprise a plurality of magnetic field generating units.
  • FIG. 4 depicts a wireless power transmitter magnet 402 that is part of a wireless power transfer system 400 according to a particular embodiment.
  • Wireless power transfer system 400 may comprise a power receiver magnet (not shown in the FIG. 4 view) which has features similar to those of transmitter magnet 402 .
  • Wireless power transmitter magnet 402 (or the corresponding wireless power receiver) of the FIG. 4 embodiment is generally cylindrically shaped having a cylindrical axis 170 and comprises a plurality of quasi-pie-shaped magnetic field generating units 408 .
  • Wireless power transmitter magnet 402 (or the corresponding receiver magnet) is described herein as having an axial direction 170 , a generally circular magnetization-variation direction 150 and generally radial uniform-magnetization directions 160 .
  • Each magnetic field generating unit 408 exhibits predominantly a single magnetization direction 420 .
  • the magnetization direction 420 of each field generating unit 408 may be orthogonal to a corresponding uniform-magnetization direction 160 , as depicted in FIG. 4 .
  • magnetization-variation direction 150 extends circumferentially about axis 170 and uniform-magnetization directions 160 extend radially from axis 170 .
  • Each magnetic field generating unit 408 exhibits predominantly a single magnetization direction 420 , which may vary between magnetic field generating units 408 along magnetization-variation direction 150 .
  • the magnetization directions 420 of magnetic field generating units 408 adjacent to one another in magnetization-variation direction 150 may be different from one another.
  • FIG. 1 is a quasi-cross-sectional view of a magnetically coupled wireless power transfer system 100 according to an example embodiment having a transmitter 102 and a receiver 104 , each of which is cylindrically shaped similar to power receiver/transmitter magnet 402 depicted in FIG. 4 .
  • the quasi-cross-sectional view of transmitter 102 is taken along transmitter magnetization-variation direction 150 A and in an axial direction 170 and the quasi-cross-sectional view of receiver 104 is taken receiver magnetization-variation direction 150 B in an axial direction 170 .
  • FIG. 1 is a quasi-cross-sectional view of a magnetically coupled wireless power transfer system 100 according to an example embodiment having a transmitter 102 and a receiver 104 , each of which is cylindrically shaped similar to power receiver/transmitter magnet 402 depicted in FIG. 4 .
  • the quasi-cross-sectional view of transmitter 102 is taken along transmitter magnetization-variation direction 150 A and in an axial direction 170 and the quasi-cross-sectional view
  • FIG. 1 is not a true cross-section, but instead depicts a quasi-cross-sectional (i.e. circumferentially unraveled) view of a cylindrical power transmitter magnet 102 unraveled along magnetization variation direction 150 A and a quasi-cross-sectional (i.e. circumferentially unraveled) view of a cylindrical power receiver magnet 104 unraveled along magnetization variation direction 150 B.
  • cross-sections further unraveled views shown in the drawings may be referred to herein as “cross-sections”.
  • the FIG. 1 wireless power transfer system 100 comprises a wireless power transmitter magnet 102 and wireless power receiver magnet 104 in close proximity and separated by an air gap 106 .
  • the wireless power transmitter magnet 102 and wireless power receiver magnet 104 each comprise individual magnetic field generating units 108 .
  • wireless power transmitter magnet 102 comprises individual transmitter magnetic field generating units 108 A
  • wireless power receiver magnet 104 comprises individual receiver magnetic field generating units 108 B.
  • transmitter magnetic field generating units 108 A and receiver magnetic field generating units 108 B may be referred to more generally herein as magnetic field generating units 108 which may refer to one or both of transmitter magnetic field generating units 108 A and receiver magnetic field generating units 108 B.
  • Magnetic field generating units 108 may comprise permanent magnets such as, but not limited to, NdFeB, samarium cobalt, ferrite, magnetite and alnico magnets made up of combinations of iron, aluminum, nickel, cobalt, titanium and copper and commonly known by trade names such as Alni, Alcomax, Hycomax, Columax, and Ticonal, or combinations thereof. It will be considered in this disclosure that a permanent magnet is an object made from a material that is magnetized and creates its own persistent magnetic field.
  • Each magnetic field generating unit 108 may exhibit predominantly a single magnetization direction.
  • each transmitter magnetic field generating unit 108 A exhibits predominantly a corresponding first magnetization direction 120 A, which may vary between transmitter magnetic field generating units 108 A along transmitter magnetization-variation direction 150 A.
  • Transmitter variation direction 150 A may comprise a circumferentially oriented magnetization-variation direction 150 , as shown in FIG. 4 .
  • the first magnetization directions 120 A of transmitter magnetic field generating units 108 A adjacent to one another in transmitter magnetization-variation direction 150 A may be different from one another.
  • Each first magnetization direction 120 A may also be orthogonal to a corresponding transmitter uniform-magnetization direction 160 A, as depicted in FIG. 1 .
  • Each transmitter uniform-magnetization direction 160 A may comprise a radially oriented uniform-magnetization direction 160 as shown in FIG. 4 .
  • First magnetization direction 120 A of each transmitter magnetic field generating unit 108 A may be constant along its corresponding transmitter uniform-magnetization direction 160 A.
  • first magnetization direction 120 A of each transmitter magnetic field generating unit 108 A may be constant within each transmitter magnetic field generating unit 108 A.
  • each receiver magnetic field generating unit 108 B exhibits predominantly a corresponding second magnetization direction 120 B which may vary between receiver magnetic field generating units 108 B along receiver magnetization-variation direction 150 B.
  • Receiver variation direction 150 B may comprise a circumferentially oriented magnetization-variation direction 150 , as shown in FIG. 4 .
  • the second magnetization directions 120 B of receiver magnetic field generating units adjacent to one another in receiver magnetization-variation direction 150 B may be different from one another.
  • Each second magnetization direction 120 B may be orthogonal to a corresponding receiver uniform-magnetization direction 160 B, as depicted in FIG. 1 .
  • Each receiver uniform-magnetization direction 160 B may comprise a radially oriented uniform-magnetization direction 160 as shown in FIG. 4 .
  • Second magnetization direction 120 B of each receiver magnetic field generating unit 108 B may be constant along its corresponding receiver uniform-magnetization direction 160 B. In some embodiments, second magnetization direction 120 B of each receiver magnetic field generating unit 108 B may be constant within each receiver magnetic field generating unit 108 B.
  • transmitter magnetization-variation direction 150 A is orthogonal to each of transmitter uniform-magnetization directions 160 A and receiver magnetization-variation direction 150 B is orthogonal to each of receiver uniform-magnetization directions 160 B, as is the case in the cylindrical embodiment shown in FIG. 4 , where magnetization-variation directions 150 are circumferentially oriented and uniform-magnetization directions 160 are radial.
  • transmitter magnetization-variation direction 150 A and receiver magnetization-variation direction 150 B may be located in planes which are parallel to one another. In some embodiments, these planes are not precisely parallel and may have normal vectors oriented at an angle between 0° and 15° relative to one another.
  • transmitter 102 and receiver 104 are co-axial along cylinder axis 170 .
  • transmitter uniform-magnetization directions 160 A are distributed circumferentially about cylinder axis 170 ( FIG. 4 ) of the wireless power transmitter and extend from cylinder axis 170 in radial directions and receiver uniform-magnetization directions 160 B are distributed circumferentially about cylinder axis 170 of the wireless power receiver and extend from cylinder axis 170 in radial directions.
  • transmitter magnetization-variation direction 150 A extends circumferentially about cylinder axis 170 and the receiver magnetization-variation direction 150 B extends circumferentially about cylinder axis 170 of the wireless power receiver (i.e. as depicted in FIG. 4 in respect to uniform-magnetization direction 160 and magnetization-variation direction 150 ).
  • the variation of first and second magnetization directions 120 A, 120 B may exhibit a spatially periodic pattern.
  • the variation of first magnetization directions 120 A of transmitter magnetic field generating units 108 A may exhibit a first spatially periodic pattern along transmitter magnetization-variation direction 150 A.
  • the first spatially periodic pattern may have a first period comprising a number, ⁇ 1 , of transmitter magnetic field generating units 108 A.
  • the variation of second magnetization directions 120 B of receiver magnetic field generating units 108 B may exhibit a second spatially periodic pattern along receiver magnetization-variation direction 150 B.
  • the second spatially periodic pattern may have a second period comprising a number, ⁇ 2 , of receiver magnetic field generating units 108 B.
  • first angular offset, ⁇ 1 is greater than 0° and varies depending on the number, ⁇ 1 of transmitter magnetic field generating units 108 A in the first period. In some embodiments, the number, ⁇ 1 , of transmitter magnetic field generating units 108 A in the first period multiplied by the first angular offset, ⁇ 1 , is equal to 360°.
  • the angular orientations of second magnetization directions 120 B of receiver magnetic field generating units 108 B adjacent to one another in receiver magnetization-variation direction 150 B vary about their corresponding receiver uniform-magnetization directions 160 B by a second angular offset, ⁇ 2 .
  • second angular offset, ⁇ 2 is greater than 0° and varies depending on the number, ⁇ 2 , of receiver magnetic field generating units 108 B in the second period.
  • the number, ⁇ 2 , of transmitter magnetic field generating units 108 B in the second period multiplied by the second angular offset, ⁇ 2 is equal to 360°. As illustrated in the FIG.
  • first angular offsets, ⁇ 1 may be equal to second angular offsets, ⁇ 2 , although this is not necessary.
  • angular offsets, ⁇ 1 , ⁇ 2 are constant within each transmitter magnet 102 and each receiver magnet 104 but this is not strictly necessary.
  • angular offsets, ⁇ 1 , ⁇ 2 may vary within each transmitter magnet 102 and each receiver magnet 104
  • the number, ⁇ 1 , of transmitter magnetic field generating units in the first period comprises three or more transmitter magnetic field generating units.
  • the first period may comprise three transmitter magnetic field generating units 108 A with first angular offsets, ⁇ 1 , of approximately 120°.
  • the first period may comprise four transmitter magnetic field generating units 108 A with first angular offsets, ⁇ 1 , of approximately 90°, such as is illustrated in the FIG. 1 embodiment.
  • the number, ⁇ 2 , of receiver magnetic field generating units in the second period comprises three or more receiver magnetic field generating units.
  • the second period may comprise three receiver magnetic field generating units 108 B with second angular offsets, ⁇ 2 , of approximately 120°.
  • the second period may comprise four receiver magnetic field generating units 108 B with second angular offsets, ⁇ 2 , of approximately 90°, such as is illustrated in the FIG. 1 embodiment.
  • the number, ⁇ 1 , of transmitter magnetic field generating units in the first period and the number, ⁇ 2 , of receiver magnetic field generating units in the second period are not limited to three or four but may vary as discussed in more detail herein.
  • the number of transmitter magnetic field generating units 108 A in a wireless power transmitter is a positive integer multiple of the number, ⁇ 1 , of transmitter magnetic field generating units 108 A in a first period.
  • the number of receiver magnetic field generating units 108 B in a wireless power receiver may be a positive integer multiple of the number, ⁇ 2 , of receiver magnetic field generating units 108 B in a second period.
  • At least one of the plurality of transmitter magnetic field generating units 108 A comprises a permanent magnet and/or at least one of the receiver magnetic field generating units 108 B comprises a permanent magnet. In some embodiments, at least one of the plurality of transmitter magnetic field generating units 108 A comprises an electromagnetic coil and/or at least one of the receiver magnetic field generating units 108 B comprises an electromagnetic coil.
  • the first magnetization directions 120 A, the first angular offsets, ⁇ 1 , and the number, ⁇ 1 , of transmitter magnetic field generating units 108 A in the first period may be such that transmitter magnetic field generating units 108 A comprise a Halbach array.
  • the second magnetization directions 120 B, the second angular offsets, ⁇ 2 , and the number, ⁇ 2 , of receiver magnetic field generating units 108 B in the second period may be such that receiver magnetic field generating units 108 B comprise a Halbach array.
  • the magnetic field generating units 108 directly aligned with each other across the air gap 106 within the wireless transmitter magnet 102 and wireless receiver magnet 104 and which have magnetization directions 120 oriented in axial directions 170 have such magnetization directions 120 oriented in the same direction along axis 170 (see vertical direction 110 of the FIG. 1 illustration).
  • the magnetic field generating units 108 directly aligned with each other across the air gap 106 within the wireless transmitter magnet 102 and wireless receiver magnet 104 and which have magnetization directions 120 oriented in magnetization-variation directions 150 have such magnetization directions 120 oriented opposite to one another along their respective magnetization-variation directions 150 (see horizontal direction 112 of the FIG. 1 illustration).
  • each of the transmitter magnet 102 and receiver magnet 104 comprise Halbach arrays
  • the strongest magnetic fields are depicted by the bold dotted lines 114 and are located within the air gap 106 between transmitter magnet 102 and receiver magnet 104 .
  • the weakest magnetic fields are located in the regions 116 on the opposite sides of the transmitter magnet 102 and receiver magnet 104 from the air gap 106 .
  • this Halbach arrangement of the FIG. 1 embodiment enhances the magnetic field between transmitter magnet 102 and receiver magnet 104 .
  • the enhanced magnetic field between transmitter magnet 102 and receiver magnet 104 increases the efficiency of the wireless power transfer while limiting the intensity of stray magnetic fields on the outside of the transmitter and receiver magnets.
  • the wireless power transmitter or the wireless power receiver in the magnetically-coupled wireless power transfer system 100 in FIG. 1 is equipped with a rotor (not expressly shown in FIG. 1 ) to allow the wireless power receiver or transmitter to rotate about a corresponding axis 170 .
  • the wireless power transmitter is equipped with a rotor and the wireless power receiver is equipped with a rotor in the magnetically-coupled wireless power transfer system 100 in FIG. 1 .
  • such rotors permit the wireless power transmitter and receiver to be rotatable about a common axis 170 .
  • Such rotors may comprise a rotary assembly having an axle (as shown in FIG. 4 ) or the like, allowed to rotate by, for example, a bushing or a bearing.
  • FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a magnetically coupled wireless power transfer system 200 according to an example embodiment.
  • System 200 is substantially similar to system 100 except that first and second magnetization directions 220 A and 220 B corresponding to field-generating units 208 have each been reversed.
  • system 200 exhibits similar or identical features as described above in relation to system 100 and such similar or identical features would be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the description and understanding the figures herein.
  • system 200 may comprise a plurality of transmitter magnetic field generating units 208 A and a plurality of receiver magnetic field generating units 208 B (similar to transmitter magnetic field generating units 108 A and receiver magnetic field generating units 108 B).
  • Each transmitter magnetic field generating unit 208 A may exhibit predominantly a corresponding first magnetization direction 220 A and each receiver magnetic field generating unit 208 B may exhibit predominantly a corresponding second magnetization direction 220 B.
  • the first magnetization directions 220 A may vary in a transmitter magnetization-variation direction 150 A and the second magnetization directions 220 B may vary in a receiver magnetization-variation direction 150 B.
  • Each of the first magnetization directions 220 A may be orthogonal to a corresponding transmitter uniform-magnetization direction 160 A and each of the second magnetization directions 220 B may be orthogonal to a corresponding receiver uniform-magnetization direction 160 B.
  • System 200 of the FIG. 2 embodiment comprises a wireless power transmitter magnet 202 and wireless power receiver magnet 204 in close proximity and separated by an air gap 206 .
  • the plurality of individual magnetic field generating units 208 have magnetization directions 220 oriented in opposite directions to those found in the wireless power transfer system 100 in FIG. 1 (see magnetization directions 220 having vertical 210 and horizontal 212 orientations in the FIG. 2 view).
  • the strongest magnetic fields are located within the air gap 206 as depicted by the bold dotted magnetic flux lines 214 . This enhances the power transfer efficiency while the weakest magnetic fields are located in the regions 216 on the opposite sides of the transmitter magnet 202 and receiver magnet 204 from the air gap 206 .
  • permanent magnets such as, but not limited to, NdFeB, samarium cobalt, ferrite, magnetite and alnico magnets comprised of combinations of iron, aluminum, nickel, cobalt, titanium and copper and commonly known by trade names such as Alni, Alcomax, Hycomax, Columax, and Ticonal, or combinations thereof were used to construct the wireless power transfer systems 100 and 200 in FIGS. 1 and 2 , respectively, the alignment of the individual magnetic field generating units would simply need to be reversed.
  • the Halbach arrays in the wireless power transfer systems illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 may be constructed using permanent magnets such as, but not limited to, NdFeB, samarium cobalt, ferrite, magnetite and alnico magnets comprised of combinations of iron, aluminum, nickel, cobalt, titanium and copper and commonly known by trade names such as Alni, Alcomax, Hycomax, Columax, and Ticonal, or combinations thereof.
  • the permanent magnets may be replaced by coils.
  • Using coils in the place of permanent magnets may offer at least three distinct advantages. Firstly, rare earth magnets can be rather expensive in cost. A low cost alternative to permanent magnets would be preferred to keep manufacturing costs low. Secondly, rare earth magnets are denser and heavier in weight than coils. Thirdly, it is much easier to change the magnetization direction in coils than permanent magnets by simply reversing the current flow within the coils.
  • the wireless power transmitter or the wireless power receiver in the magnetically-coupled wireless power transfer system 200 in FIG. 2 is equipped with a rotor (not expressly shown in FIG. 2 ) to allow the wireless power receiver or transmitter to rotate about a corresponding axis 170 .
  • the wireless power transmitter is equipped with a rotor and the wireless power receiver is equipped with a rotor in the magnetically-coupled wireless power transfer system 200 in FIG. 2 .
  • such rotors permit the wireless power transmitter and receiver to be rotatable about a common axis 170 .
  • Such rotors may comprise a rotary assembly having an axle (as shown in FIG. 4 ) or the like, allowed to rotate by, for example, a bushing or a bearing.
  • FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a wireless power transmitter magnet 303 , where each field generating unit 308 A comprises one or more corresponding coils 302 according to a particular embodiment.
  • FIG. 3 shows power transmitter magnet 303 in a first state 304 and a second state 310 .
  • the Fig. power transmitter magnet 303 may comprise part of a wireless induction-based power transfer system 300 , wherein alternating the current in the coils 302 of power transmitter magnet 303 induces corresponding current in one or more proximate receiver coils (not shown in FIG. 3 ).
  • Power transmitter magnet 303 of system 300 exhibits some similarities to the power transmitter magnet 102 of the FIG. 1 embodiment.
  • power transmitter magnet 303 may comprise a plurality of transmitter magnetic field generating units 308 A.
  • Each transmitter magnetic field generating unit 308 A may exhibit predominantly a corresponding first magnetization direction 320 A (which may vary depending on the direction of current flow through its corresponding coil 302 ).
  • the first magnetization directions 320 A may vary in a transmitter magnetization-variation direction 150 A.
  • Each of the first magnetization directions 320 A may be orthogonal to a corresponding transmitter uniform-magnetization direction 160 A.
  • the one or more receiver coils of system 300 may be arranged in a manner similar to that of transmitter magnet 303 with receiver coil units corresponding to the field generating units 308 of transmitter magnet 303 , although this is not necessary. While FIG. 3 depicts a wireless power transmitter 303 , a wireless power receiver could be provided with field generating units arranged in a manner similar to the field generating units 308 of transmitter magnet 303
  • coils 302 of transmitter 303 may be electrically connected in series. In some embodiments, coils 302 may be fabricated from a single wire. In the FIG. 3 embodiment of wireless power transmitter 303 (or a similarly configured wireless power receiver), the electrical current-carrying coils 302 may be arranged such that current flow through coils 302 in a first direction causes the magnetization directions 320 A of transmitter 303 to have the Halbach arrangement 304 (shown at the top of FIG. 3 ) and such that current flow through coils 302 in a second (opposing) direction causes the magnetization directions 320 A of transmitter 303 to have the Halbach arrangement 310 (shown at the bottom of FIG. 3 ).
  • the magnetic induction wireless power transfer system 300 of the FIG. 3 embodiment may comprise a wireless power transmitter 303 having a plurality of field generating units 308 A, each of which may further comprise one or more electrical current-carrying coils 302 .
  • a wireless power receiver (not shown in FIG. 3 ) may comprise one or more receiver coils.
  • a wireless power receiver may comprise a plurality of magnetic field generating units, each of which may further comprise one or more electrical current-carrying coils, and which may have an arrangement similar to that of transmitter 303 .
  • An air gap may separate the wireless power transmitter 303 and wireless power receiver.
  • the plurality of electrical current-carrying coils 302 in wireless power transmitter 303 and the wireless power receiver may be arranged in an array such that the magnetic field strength is greater in the air gap between the wireless power transmitter and wireless power receiver than the magnetic field strength outside of the air gap separating the wireless power transmitter and wireless power receiver.
  • the coils 302 in transmitter 303 and the receiver may be arranged such that the magnetization directions of adjacent field-generating units (in the transmitter and/or the receiver) are angularly offset from one another.
  • adjacent field-generating units 308 A exhibit angular offsets, ⁇ , of about 90° about their corresponding uniform-magnetization directions 160 A.
  • the alternating current going into each coil 302 in transmitter 303 may be phased relative to the current in other coils 302 to ensure that the magnetic field directions 320 , which may be 306 (vertical in the illustrated view) and 308 (horizontal in the illustrated view) produced by the transmitting coils 302 achieve strong magnetic field (depicted by bold dotted lines) on one side compared to the magnetic field (depicted by thin dotted lines) on the other (similar to as shown in FIG. 1 ).
  • This can be achieved, for example, by connecting the ends of each adjacent coil 302 in series such that either state 304 or 310 is achieved when the current reverses direction in the transmitter as shown in FIG. 3 .
  • the strongly one-sided time varying magnetic field produced by transmitter 303 induces a time-varying current in one or more receiver coils (which may comprise a set of receiver coils having an arrangement similar to the coils 302 of transmitter 303 ) and which are located on the side of transmitter 303 having the stronger field and potentially separated from transmitter 303 by an air gap.
  • receiver coils which may comprise a set of receiver coils having an arrangement similar to the coils 302 of transmitter 303
  • Other magnetization patterns may be possible than those listed in FIG. 3 such as where the angular offset, ⁇ , may range from about 1° to about 90° or more.
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a wireless power transmitter or receiver magnet according to an example embodiment.
  • FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary non-unraveled view of a wireless power transmitter magnet 402 or receiver magnet. Any of the transmitter and/or receivers of the embodiments described in connection with FIGS. 1-3 and 5-8 may have the non-unraveled configuration shown in FIG. 4 , although this is not necessary.
  • System 400 represents an exemplary embodiment of a wireless power transmitter magnet 402 or receiver magnet that could exhibit any of the properties described above or below in relation to a wireless power transmitter magnet (i.e. magnet 104 or any other transmitter magnet or coil herein) or a wireless power receiver magnet (i.e. magnet 102 or any other receiver magnet or coil herein).
  • System 400 may be substantially similar to system 100 (or 200 or any other embodiment herein), although shown from a different perspective. In other respects, system 400 may exhibit similar or identical features as described above in relation to system 100 and such similar or identical features would be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the description and understanding the figures herein.
  • power transmitter magnet 402 of system 400 comprises a plurality of magnetic field generating units 408 (similar to transmitter magnetic field generating units 108 A and receiver magnetic field generating units 108 B). Each magnetic field generating unit 408 may exhibit predominantly a corresponding magnetization direction 420 .
  • the magnetization directions 420 may vary in a magnetization-variation direction 150 .
  • Each of the magnetization directions 420 may be orthogonal to a corresponding uniform-magnetization direction 160 .
  • FIG. 4 is an illustration of an embodiment of a wireless power transmitter magnet 402 or receiver magnet in a disk-like (or cylindrical) shape constructed of a plurality of individual petal-shaped, pie-shaped or wedge-shaped magnetic field generating units 408 , which may comprise permanent magnets or coil-based magnets.
  • petal-shaped individual magnetic field generating units 408 each with a specific magnetization direction 420 are linked together or otherwise abut one another.
  • Lines 404 denote the location of demarcation where the individual magnetic field generating units 408 are linked side-by-side.
  • System 400 may further comprise a rotor 418 operative connected to transmitter magnet 402 by which transmitter magnet 402 may be rotated about axis 170 (e.g. with a motor or some other mover). Additionally or alternatively, the transmitter 402 may be rotated in the magnetic-variation direction 150 by coils carrying alternating current (AC) placed behind the magnets (e.g. coils similar to coils 706 in FIG. 7 ).
  • AC alternating current
  • FIG. 4 shows the transmitter magnet 402 being depicted as a disk, other non-limiting shapes may be used such as, for example, cylindrical or spherical.
  • the magnetic field generating units 408 may be comprised of permanent magnets such as, but not limited to, NdFeB, samarium cobalt, ferrite, magnetite and alnico magnets made up of combinations of iron, aluminum, nickel, cobalt, titanium and copper and commonly known by trade names such as Alni, Alcomax, Hycomax, Columax, and Ticonal, or combinations thereof.
  • a receiver magnet (not shown) may be provided and may have properties similar to transmitter magnet 402 (except that the receiver magnet is not drivingly rotated).
  • FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a wireless power transmitter or receiver magnet 502 according to an example embodiment which may form part of a wireless power system 500 according to an example embodiment.
  • System 500 is substantially similar to system 100 except that the angular offset, ⁇ , of the magnetization directions 520 is smaller than in system 100 .
  • system 500 exhibits similar or identical features as described above in relation to system 100 and such similar or identical features would be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the description and understanding the figures herein.
  • system 500 comprises a plurality of magnetic field generating units 508 (similar to transmitter magnetic field generating units 108 A and receiver magnetic field generating units 108 B). Each magnetic field generating unit 508 may exhibit predominantly a corresponding magnetization direction.
  • the magnetization directions 520 may vary in a magnetization-variation direction 150 . Each of the magnetization directions 520 may be orthogonal to a corresponding uniform-magnetization direction 160 .
  • the magnetization directions 520 may exhibit a spatially periodic pattern having a number, ⁇ , of magnetic field generating units 508 in each period.
  • FIG. 5 is a depiction of a cross-section (i.e. an unraveled view) of a wireless transmitter or receiver magnet 502 comprised of a plurality of individual magnetic field generating units 508 in an arrangement similar to that found in FIG. 4 (the rotor is not shown).
  • the magnetization directions 520 between adjacent individual magnetic field generating units 508 comprising permanent magnets or coils or combinations thereof, within the wireless power transmitter or receiver exhibit angular offsets, ⁇ , of about ⁇ 45° about their corresponding uniform-magnetization directions.
  • the magnetic field generating units 508 may be comprised of permanent magnets such as, but not limited to, NdFeB, samarium cobalt, ferrite, magnetite and alnico magnets made up of combinations of iron, aluminum, nickel, cobalt, titanium and copper and commonly known by trade names such as Alni, Alcomax, Hycomax, Columax, and Ticonal, or combinations thereof.
  • the wireless power transmitter or receiver magnet embodiment 502 depicted in FIG. 5 may further comprise a rotor.
  • the rotor may comprise a rotary assembly having an axle or the like, allowed to rotate by, for example, a bushing or a bearing.
  • FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a wireless power transmitter or receiver magnet 602 according to an example embodiment which may form part of a wireless power system 600 according to an example embodiment.
  • System 600 is substantially similar to system 100 except that the angular offset, ⁇ , of the magnetization directions 620 is smaller than in system 100 .
  • system 600 exhibits similar or identical features as described above in relation to system 100 and such similar or identical features would be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the description and understanding the figures herein.
  • system 600 comprises a plurality of magnetic field generating units 608 (similar to transmitter magnetic field generating units 108 A and receiver magnetic field generating units 108 B). Each magnetic field generating unit 608 may exhibit predominantly a corresponding magnetization direction.
  • the magnetization directions 620 may vary in a magnetization-variation direction 150 . Each of the magnetization directions 620 may be orthogonal to a corresponding uniform-magnetization direction 160 .
  • the magnetization directions 620 may exhibit a spatially periodic pattern having a number, ⁇ , of magnetic field generating units 608 in each period.
  • FIG. 6 is a depiction of a cross-section of a wireless transmitter or receiver magnet 602 comprised of a plurality of individual magnetic field generating units 608 in an arrangement similar to that found in FIG. 4 (the rotor is not shown).
  • the magnetization directions 620 between adjacent individual magnetic field generating units 608 comprised of permanent magnets or coils or combinations thereof within the wireless power transmitter or receiver exhibit angular offsets, ⁇ , of about ⁇ 30° about their corresponding uniform-magnetization directions.
  • the magnetic field generating units 608 may be comprised of permanent magnets such as, but not limited to, NdFeB, samarium cobalt, ferrite, magnetite and alnico magnets made up of combinations of iron, aluminum, nickel, cobalt, titanium and copper and commonly known by trade names such as Alni, Alcomax, Hycomax, Columax, and Ticonal, or combinations thereof.
  • the wireless power transmitter or receiver magnet embodiment 602 depicted in FIG. 6 may further comprise a rotor.
  • the rotor may comprise a rotary assembly having an axle or the like, allowed to rotate by, for example, a bushing or a bearing.
  • Halbach array embodiments for wireless power transfer systems described herein they have been limited to angular offsets, ⁇ , of about 30°, 45° and 90° about their corresponding uniform-magnetization directions (i.e. uniform-magnetization directions 160 ).
  • This has been for purposes of description only and should not be considered limitative. In principle there could be an infinite number of angular offsets, ⁇ , in magnetization directions from about ⁇ 1° to about ⁇ 120° but for practical reasons these may be limited.
  • the magnetization directions aren't required to be vertical or horizontal. It is desired that the magnetization directions “rotate” in different directions for the transmitter and receiver, thereby causing the magnetic field in the gap to become more sinusoidal and hence the induced current in the coil becomes more sinusoidal.
  • the transmitter magnet rotor may be driven by a motor and rotated to create a first time-varying magnetic field. This induces rotation in a receiver magnet across a gap to produce a second time-varying magnetic field. The transfer of power across the gap is through magnetic coupling. The second time varying magnetic field induces electrical current in coils around the receiver magnets.
  • FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a wireless power transfer system 700 comprising individual magnetic field generating units made up of both permanent magnets and stationary coils according to an example embodiment.
  • System 700 is substantially similar to system 100 except that coils 706 and 712 have been added, as described below.
  • system 700 exhibits similar or identical features as described above in relation to system 100 and such similar or identical features would be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the description and understanding the figures herein.
  • system 700 may comprise a plurality of transmitter magnetic field generating units 708 A and a plurality of receiver magnetic field generating units 708 B (similar to transmitter magnetic field generating units 108 A and receiver magnetic field generating units 108 B).
  • Each transmitter magnetic field generating unit 708 A may exhibit predominantly a corresponding first magnetization direction 720 A and each receiver magnetic field generating unit 708 B may exhibit predominantly a corresponding second magnetization direction 720 B.
  • the first magnetization directions 720 A may vary in a transmitter magnetization-variation direction 150 A and the second magnetization directions 720 B may vary in a receiver magnetization-variation direction 150 B.
  • Each of the first magnetization directions 720 A may be orthogonal to a corresponding transmitter uniform-magnetization direction 160 A and each of the second magnetization directions 720 B may be orthogonal to a corresponding receiver uniform-magnetization direction 160 B.
  • the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7 is a cross-section of a wireless power transfer system 700 comprises a combination of a plurality of permanent magnets in a Halbach array and stationary coils.
  • the wireless power transfer system comprises a wireless power transmitter 702 that further may comprise a plurality of transmitter magnetic field generating units 708 A aligned in the form of a Halbach transmitter magnet (rotor not shown) where the horizontal and vertical magnetization directions 720 A of the individual transmitter magnetic field generating units 708 A exhibit angular offsets, ⁇ , of about ⁇ 90° about their corresponding uniform-magnetization directions 160 A.
  • Placed below the plurality of transmitter magnetic field generating units 708 A is a plurality of stationary electrical current-carrying coils 706 .
  • An alternating electrical current may be passed through stationary electrical current-carrying coils 706 to induce rotational motion in the transmitter magnetic field generating units 708 A.
  • the wireless power transfer system 700 further comprises a wireless power receiver 704 that comprises a plurality of receiver magnetic field generating units 708 B aligned in the form of a Halbach receiver magnet (rotor not shown).
  • the horizontal and vertical magnetization directions 720 B of the individual receiver magnetic field generating units 708 B are offset by an angular offset, ⁇ , of about +90° about their corresponding uniform-magnetization directions, or opposite to that found in the Halbach transmitter magnet.
  • the vertical magnetization directions of the Halbach receiver and transmitter magnets are aligned in the same direction while the horizontal magnetization directions of the Halbach transmitter and receiver magnets are in opposite directions.
  • a plurality of stationary electrical current-carrying power receiver coils 712 Placed between the plurality of receiver magnetic field generating units 708 B in the Halbach receiver magnet (rotor not shown) of the wireless power receiver and the plurality of transmitter magnetic field generating units 708 A in the Halbach transmitter magnet (rotor not shown) of the wireless power transmitter is a plurality of stationary electrical current-carrying power receiver coils 712 in which an alternating current is induced by the enhanced magnetic field caused by rotation of the receiver and transmitter magnetic arrays around an axis (i.e. axis 170 , not shown). It is preferred that the stationary receiver coils 712 are located in close proximity to the Halbach receiver magnet as the magnetic field is strongest.
  • the wireless power transmitter 702 and wireless power receiver 704 are separated by an air gap 714 .
  • the air gap 714 Within the air gap 714 are located the strongest magnetic fields of the Halbach transmitter and receiver magnets. In the regions 716 on the opposite sides of the Halbach transmitter and receiver magnets from the air gap 714 is located the area where the magnetic field is substantially reduced relative to the magnetic fields within the air gap 714 .
  • This Halbach arrangement embodiment substantially reduces stray magnetic fields and enhances the magnetic fields within the air gap 714 in order to enhance the efficiency of the power transmission.
  • Halbach arrangement embodiments may be envisioned for use in wireless power transfer systems using combinations of permanent magnets and coils as explained herein and illustrated in the non-limiting example in FIG. 7 .
  • magnetization directions of the individual magnetic field generating units within the Halbach transmitter and receiver magnets may exhibit angular offsets, ⁇ , of about ⁇ 45° to about ⁇ 30° about their corresponding uniform-magnetization directions as described in FIGS. 5 and 6 , respectively.
  • Other angular offsets, ⁇ , of varying angles may be used from about ⁇ 1° to about ⁇ 90° or more.
  • the magnetic field generating units 708 A, 708 B may be comprised of permanent magnets such as, but not limited to, NdFeB, samarium cobalt, ferrite, magnetite and alnico magnets made up of combinations of iron, aluminum, nickel, cobalt, titanium and copper and commonly known by trade names such as Alni, Alcomax, Hycomax, Columax, and Ticonal, or combinations thereof.
  • permanent magnets such as, but not limited to, NdFeB, samarium cobalt, ferrite, magnetite and alnico magnets made up of combinations of iron, aluminum, nickel, cobalt, titanium and copper and commonly known by trade names such as Alni, Alcomax, Hycomax, Columax, and Ticonal, or combinations thereof.
  • the wireless power transmitter in the wireless power transfer system 700 in FIG. 7 further comprises a rotor.
  • the wireless power receiver in the wireless power transfer system 700 in FIG. 7 further comprises a rotor.
  • both the wireless power transmitter comprises a rotor and the wireless power receiver comprises a rotor in the wireless power transfer system 700 depicted in FIG. 7 .
  • the rotor may comprise a rotary assembly having an axle or the like, allowed to rotate by, for example, a bushing or a bearing.
  • the wireless power transfer system 700 embodiment shown in FIG. 7 may be operated as follows. Changing the current in the stationary transmitter coils 706 creates a magnetic field that induces the rotation/movement of the Halbach transmitter magnetic field generating units 708 A which produces a strong first time-varying magnetic field. This first magnetic field couples with the Halbach receiver magnetic field generating units 708 B which rotate/move and produce a second time varying magnetic field that in turn induces a time-varying current in the stationary receiver coils 712 located in the air gap 714 where the magnetic field is the strongest. This results in power being transferred from the wireless power transmitter 702 to the wireless power receiver 704 .
  • FIG. 8 is a cross-section of a wireless power transfer system 800 comprising a combination of a plurality of moveable permanent magnets in a Halbach array and stationary coils according to an example embodiment.
  • System 800 is substantially similar to system 100 except that rotating wireless power transmitter 102 has been replaced with a stationary wireless power transmitter 802 (similar to that of FIG. 2 ).
  • system 800 exhibits similar or identical features as described above in relation to system 100 and such similar or identical features would be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the description and understanding the figures herein.
  • system 800 may comprise a plurality of transmitter magnetic field generating units 808 A and a plurality of receiver magnetic field generating units 808 B (similar to receiver magnetic field generating units 108 B).
  • Each transmitter magnetic field generating unit 808 A may exhibit predominantly a corresponding first magnetization direction 820 A and each receiver magnetic field generating unit 808 B may exhibit predominantly a corresponding second magnetization direction 820 B.
  • the first magnetization directions 820 A may vary in a transmitter magnetization-variation direction 150 A and the second magnetization directions 820 B may vary in a receiver magnetization-variation direction 150 B.
  • Each of the first magnetization directions 820 A may be orthogonal to a corresponding transmitter uniform-magnetization direction 160 A and each of the second magnetization directions 820 B may be orthogonal to a corresponding receiver uniform-magnetization direction 160 B.
  • the wireless power transfer system 800 in FIG. 8 is comprised of a wireless power transmitter 802 that is further comprised of a plurality of stationary electrical current-carrying coils 804 through which a time-varying current may be passed to create a first time varying magnetic field in a Halbach manner where the resulting horizontal and vertical magnetization directions exhibit angular offsets, ⁇ , of about ⁇ 90° about their corresponding uniform-magnetization directions.
  • the wireless power transfer system 800 further comprises a wireless power receiver 806 that is comprised of a plurality of magnetic field generating units 808 B aligned in the form of a Halbach receiver magnet (rotor not shown) where the horizontal and vertical magnetization directions 820 B of the individual receiver magnetic field generating units 808 B exhibit angular offsets, ⁇ , of about +90° about their corresponding uniform-magnetization directions, or opposite to that found in the Halbach transmitter magnet.
  • the vertical magnetization directions of the Halbach receiver magnet and magnetic field generated by the stationary transmitter coils may be aligned in the same direction while the horizontal magnetization directions are in opposite directions.
  • the magnetic field generating units 808 B may be comprised of permanent magnets such as, but not limited to, NdFeB, samarium cobalt, ferrite, magnetite and alnico magnets made up of combinations of iron, aluminum, nickel, cobalt, titanium and copper and commonly known by trade names such as Alni, Alcomax, Hycomax, Columax, and Ticonal, or combinations thereof.
  • permanent magnets such as, but not limited to, NdFeB, samarium cobalt, ferrite, magnetite and alnico magnets made up of combinations of iron, aluminum, nickel, cobalt, titanium and copper and commonly known by trade names such as Alni, Alcomax, Hycomax, Columax, and Ticonal, or combinations thereof.
  • a plurality of stationary power receiver coils 810 Placed between the plurality of magnetic field generating units 808 B in the Halbach receiver magnet of the wireless power receiver and the plurality of stationary coils 804 in the Halbach transmitter of the wireless power transmitter 802 is a plurality of stationary power receiver coils 810 where a current is induced. It is preferred that the stationary receiver coils 810 are located close to the magnetic field generating units 808 as the magnetic field is strongest.
  • the wireless power transmitter 802 and wireless power receiver 806 are in close proximity and separated by an air gap 812 . Within the air gap 812 is located the strongest magnetic fields (represented by bold dotted lines) of the Halbach power transmitter 802 and receiver 806 .
  • the wireless power receiver further consists of a rotor in the wireless power transfer system 800 depicted in FIG. 8 .
  • the wireless power transfer system 800 embodiment shown in FIG. 8 may be operated as follows. Applying a current, such as an alternating current, in the stationary electrical current-carrying transmitter coils 804 creates a first time varying magnetic field in a Halbach arrangement where each individual coil has an angular offset, a. This first time varying magnetic field magnetically couples onto the Halbach magnetic field generating units (permanent magnets) 808 B (rotor not shown) in the wireless power transfer receiver 806 . This induces motion/rotation of the magnetic field generating units 808 B. This motion/rotation generates a secondary time-varying magnetic field resulting in electrical current being induced in the coils 810 adjacent to the magnetic field generating units 808 B.
  • a current such as an alternating current
  • the wireless power transmitter consists of stationary electrical current-carrying coils and a plurality of moveable permanent magnets in a Halbach array and a rotor.
  • the wireless power receiver comprises stationary current-carrying coils only. Applying a current to the stationary coils in the transmitter creates a first time varying magnetic field in a Halbach arrangement which induces motion/rotation of the magnetic field generating units in the transmitter. This motion/rotation generates a secondary time-varying magnetic field resulting in electrical current being induced in the coils in the wireless power receiver.
  • FIG. 9 is a cross-section (taken in a plane orthogonal to uniform-magnetization directions 960 A, 960 B) of another embodiment of a wireless power transfer system 900 comprising a combination of a plurality of moveable permanent magnets and stationary coils according to an example embodiment.
  • System 900 comprises a cylindrical transmitter magnet 908 A with an axial transmitter magnetization-variation direction 950 A about which magnets 908 A are rotated.
  • System 900 also comprises a cylindrical receiver magnet 908 B with an axial receiver magnetization-variation direction 950 B about which magnets 908 B are rotated. Rotating magnets 908 A and 908 B may be magnetically coupled.
  • System 900 is similar to system 100 except as described herein.
  • system 900 exhibits similar or identical features as described above in relation to system 100 and such similar or identical features would be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the description and understanding the figures herein.
  • system 900 may comprise a plurality of transmitter magnetic field generating units 908 A and a plurality of receiver magnetic field generating units 908 B (similar to transmitter magnetic field generating units 108 A and receiver magnetic field generating units 108 B, although different in shape).
  • Each transmitter magnetic field generating unit 908 A may exhibit predominantly a corresponding first magnetization direction 920 A and each receiver magnetic field generating unit 908 B may exhibit predominantly a corresponding second magnetization direction 920 B.
  • the first magnetization directions 920 A may vary in a transmitter magnetization-variation direction 950 A and the second magnetization directions 920 B may vary in a receiver magnetization-variation direction 950 B.
  • Each of the first magnetization directions 920 A may be orthogonal to a corresponding transmitter uniform-magnetization direction 960 A and each of the second magnetization directions 920 B may be orthogonal to a corresponding receiver uniform-magnetization direction 960 B.
  • the wireless power transfer system comprises a wireless power transmitter 902 that further may comprise a plurality of transmitter magnetic field generating units 908 A.
  • Magnetic field generating units 908 A comprised of permanent magnets 906 interleaved with stationary electrical current-carrying coils 918 A.
  • the permanent magnets 906 may be comprised of permanent magnets such as, but not limited to, NdFeB, samarium cobalt, ferrite, magnetite and alnico magnets made up of combinations of iron, aluminum, nickel, cobalt, titanium and copper and commonly known by trade names such as Alni, Alcomax, Hycomax, Columax, and Ticonal, or combinations thereof.
  • the permanent magnets 906 may be in a cylindrical shape (with an axis parallel to magnetic variation direction 950 A) interconnected by a common shaft (not shown) that passes through the stationary coils 918 A.
  • the permanent magnets 906 may rotate about the magnetization-variation direction 950 A and are further surrounded by coils 940 . Magnet rotation is induced by application of a current in the coils 940 surrounding the permanent magnets 906 .
  • the wireless power transfer system 900 further comprises a wireless power receiver 912 that further comprises a plurality of receiver magnetic field generating units 908 B comprised of permanent magnets 916 interleaved with stationary coils 918 B.
  • the permanent magnets 916 may be in a cylindrical shape interconnected by a common shaft (not shown) that passes through the stationary electrical current-carrying coils 918 B.
  • the magnets may rotate about magnetization-variation direction 950 B and are further surrounded by coils 930 .
  • the wireless power transmitter 902 and receiver 912 are further separated by an air gap 922 .
  • the magnetization directions of the plurality of magnetic field generating units 908 A of the wireless power transmitter 902 exhibit angular offsets, ⁇ , of about ⁇ 90° about their corresponding uniform-magnetization directions 960 .
  • the magnetization directions 920 of the magnetic field generating units 908 B of the wireless power receiver 912 exhibit angular offsets, ⁇ , of about +90° about their corresponding uniform-magnetization directions.
  • Other angular offsets, ⁇ , of magnetization directions of various angles may be used.
  • the permanent magnets 916 may be comprised of permanent magnets such as, but not limited to, NdFeB, samarium cobalt, ferrite, magnetite and alnico magnets made up of combinations of iron, aluminum, nickel, cobalt, titanium and copper and commonly known by trade names such as Alni, Alcomax, Hycomax, Columax, and Ticonal, or combinations thereof.
  • permanent magnets such as, but not limited to, NdFeB, samarium cobalt, ferrite, magnetite and alnico magnets made up of combinations of iron, aluminum, nickel, cobalt, titanium and copper and commonly known by trade names such as Alni, Alcomax, Hycomax, Columax, and Ticonal, or combinations thereof.
  • the wireless power transmitter in the wireless power transfer system 900 in FIG. 9 further comprises a rotor.
  • the wireless power receiver in the wireless power transfer system 900 in FIG. 9 further comprises a rotor.
  • both the wireless power transmitter comprises a rotor and the wireless power receiver comprises a rotor in the wireless power transfer system 900 depicted in FIG. 9 .
  • the rotor may comprise a rotary assembly having an axle or the like parallel with magnetization-variation directions 950 A, 950 B, allowed to rotate by, for example, a bushing or a bearing.
  • the wireless power transfer system 900 embodiment shown in FIG. 9 may be operated as follows.
  • the stationary coils 918 A and 940 in the wireless power transmitter 902 are energized by alternating current to produce a time varying magnetic field that rotates the permanent magnets 906 connected by a common shaft on an axis parallel to magnetization-variation direction 950 B.
  • the coils 918 A and 940 are interconnected and electrical current through the adjacent coils 918 A will flow in a way to maintain a Halbach magnetic field with magnetic flux directed towards the wireless power receiver as much as possible. This forms the first time-varying magnetic field with magnetic field focused towards the receiver 912 .
  • the permanent magnets 916 linked by a common shaft in a direction parallel to magnetization-variation direction 950 A with interleaved coils 918 B on an axis parallel to magnetization-variation direction 950 A in the wireless power receiver 912 rotates through magnetic coupling with the first time-varying magnetic field. This motion generates a second time-varying magnetic field which induces electrical current through the coils 930 around the permanent magnets 916 . These coils 930 are connected to the adjacent (interleaved) coils 918 B, which produces a third time-varying magnetic field that cancels and reinforces the second time-varying magnetic field such that a second Halbach magnetic field is formed at the receiver.
  • the magnetic flux is focused towards the wireless power transmitter with the highest magnetic fields within the air gap 922 .
  • This Halbach arrangement may substantially reduce stray magnetic fields and enhances the magnetic fields within the air gap 922 in order to enhance the efficiency of the power transmission.
  • the invention described herein may be used in wireless power transmission systems based on the Faraday effect and Halbach arrays to increase the efficiency of the power transmission and make safer for consumers by reducing stray magnetic fields.
  • Said wireless power transmission systems may be used in applications such as, but not limited to, boats, automobiles, trucks, delivery vehicles, transit buses, ships, aircraft, motorcycles, electric bicycles, consumer devices and medical implants and other devices.
  • a further advantage of the invention described may be the reduction in cost and in weight by eliminating the need for soft-iron cores in the coils.
  • the systems described herein may be scalable to more magnets and/or coils to produce different power ranges.

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EP3138183B1 (fr) 2019-08-21
WO2015161370A1 (fr) 2015-10-29
EP3138183A1 (fr) 2017-03-08
CN106575884A (zh) 2017-04-19
EP3138183A4 (fr) 2018-01-10
US20170093215A1 (en) 2017-03-30

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